Omo shares some tips. I think, they are quite sensible. He mentions commuting, but I never commute to a con. It's just... not the same.

BTW, one small note:

I don’t have any real numbers to back this up, but I bet more people go to any major west-coast con than people who would buy the entire season of Nanoha StrikerS if it was ever licensed.

Considering the real numbers, it's a safe bet. If AX gathers 40 thousand, Fanime takes 20, and Sakura about 10, the three aim above the 40k of Haruhi. Since the DVD sales continue to fall, StrikerS are not likely to reach Haruhi levels. It's not all that amazing, I heard.